Typewriting machine



W. a? HELMOND TYPEWRIT I NG MACHINE Original Filed June 13, 1919 fMMPatented Nov. 25, 1924.

WILLIAM F. HELM'OND, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD-TYFEWVRITER GCM PANY, QF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORE'ORATION OF DELAWARE.

TY'BEXVRITING MACHINE.

Original application filed June 13, 1919;; Serial No. 30 3,9118.

Serial No. 371,312.

To; all whom it may concern: 1

Be it knownthat I, Vii-Jamar F. HELMOND, a citizen of the United States,residing in; Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful lmp-rovementsinTypewritinjg Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to, the means whereby the type-keys effectletter-feeding; movements of the carriages of typewriting machines. Inthis application, which is a division of my prior application, Serial.No. 303,913, filed June 13, l9l9, (now Patent No.- 1,451L02el, datedMarch 28, 1922), the inven-- tion disclosed and claimed relates moreparticularly to an improved construction and mounting of the universalbar which trans m-its the movements of the keys to the letterfeedingdogs; and to improvements inmeans whereby the type-bars of the machinemay be inserted and removed. The claims of the aforesaid parent,application are confined to. other parts of the typewriter escapemen-tmechanism, including improvements in the:

means for controlling; the movements, of the feed-dogs and the means formounting the escapemen-t wheel.

The universal bar in the Underwood typewriting machine is curved orsegmental, isoperated directly by the type-bars, anditorms part of aframe which at its rear end is carried upon a rocking frame. Thisuniversal bar. not only operates the escapement: dogs, but also vibratesthe ribbon: up in front of the platen at the typestrolreaand, owing tothe narrowness of the printing field of the ribbon, particularly when abichrome ribbon is used, it isnecessary for the vibrator to-be accuratein its movements. Tothis end, it is necessary for the universal bar tobe accurately placed with reference to the type-bars, and it hastherefore been the practice tobend and twist the universal bar frame inattempting to secure the desired ac" curate relationship of theuniversal bar with the type-bars. It is necessary that the active faceof the universal bar, that is, the face which is engaged by thetype-bars, shall be in a plane which is parallel with the generalplaneof the type-bar pivots. An object of the invention is to provide simpleand ellicient means for securing this, result. This Divided an-dthisapplication filed- April 5,

backwardly upon the machine, so, that an.

end of the universal bar'may be swung horizontally either forwardly orbackwardly, as

required, thereby bringing it into the, re-

quired parallelism.

The invention also comprises an improved mounting for a dog-rocker stop,which is movable to a position such as to permit an amplified movementof the rocker and universal bar to facilitate the-insertion andremovalof the type-bars.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a central sectional side View of an Underwood typewritingmachine, illustrating the present improvements.

Figure 2 shows part of the devices seen at Figure 1-, and illustratesthe method of re: moving a type-bar from the machine.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of a conical pivot and a fitting thereforin the arm of universal bar frame.

Figure 4 illustrates details of a stop-lever which isv movable to permitthe operationseen in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is-an enlarged perspective. View of a conical pivot for therocking frame- Wlll'Cll carries the universal bar, showing the, arbor ormount for said pivot and its ad justing head and locking pin.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the escapement' mechanism.

Figure 7 is a sectional view, taken about; centrally of Figure 6.

Keys 20 depress levers 21 to operatebellcranks 22 to swing type-bars 23'up against the front of a platen 2e, as is common in the Underwoodmachine; said platen being mounted upon a carriage 25 running on tracks26, 27. A. carriage rack 28 meshes with a pinion 29 that is connected toan escapement wheel 30, for controlling the let'- terfeedin'g movementsof the carriage, the latter being driven by a spring barrel 31 undercontrol of the escapement wheel. The movements of the Wheel arecontrolled by a rocker 32, having a rigid dog and a. step.- ping dog-34', the latter normally meshing withthe wheel; andmovements areimparted to the dog rocker by a striker 35, which is carried by a frame36, the latter comprising a universal bar 37, operable by heels 38 uponthe type-bars. The universal bar 37 is concentric with the wire 39, uponwhich the type-bars are usually pivoted.

At the depression of any key, its bell-crank 22 is operated, and thetype-bar 23 swung up to the printing point, pressing back the uni:versal bar 37 and frame 36, and by means of the striker 35 pressing thedog rocker back, so that the stepping dog 34 thereon escapes from thewheel 30, and the rigid detent dog 33 is carried into mesh with thewheel. The dog 34 is swung by a spring 40 to a point opposite the nextnotch in the escapement wheel 30. Upon relief of the key from pressure,it is returned by a spring 41; the typebar returns to normal position,and the universal bar is returned by a spring 42. The spring 40 operatesalso to return the dog rocker to the normal Figure 1 position.

One of the features of invention resides in the mounting of theuniversal bar frame 36. This frame is necessarily light, 'be'cause ithas to be moved quickly by its returning spring 42, and is thereforeweak, but it must move accurately, since it not only. operates theletter-feeding mechanism, but also vi brates the ribbon to cover theprinting point at each type stroke. This ribbon movement must beaccurate, especially where abichrome ribbon is used, in which the typestriking field is extremely narrow, and in which underthrow andoverthrow must be practically eliminated. The ribbon vibrator comprisesa lever 43 engaged by an actuator 44, which is mounted upon theuniversal bar frame 36. The lever is connected to vibrate a ribboncarrier 45, as usual in the Underwood typewriter.

This universal bar frame 36 has at its rear ends opposite arms 46, 47,which are pivoted upon upright guide arms 48, 49; the frame 36 beingguided at its front end in the usual manner by a tongue 50 working inthe type-bar segment 51. These arms rise from a rock shaft 52, which ispivoted bet-ween uprights 53, 54, forming part of a general framewor;for the escapement mechanism.

In order for the light and weak universal bar frame 36 to actuate theletter-feed dogs and the ribbon-vibrating mechanism with the requirednicety, it is important that the front edge of the universal bar 37should lie in a plane parallel with the plane of the curved wire 39 uponwhich the type-bars are fulcrumed, and which is about concentric withthe printing point. This is desired so that the universal bar will begiven equal strokes by all the type-bars. In order to secure thisparallelism, it has been the practice to bend the universal bar frame36. This, however, has demanded high skill,

and has been slow and expensive in manufacturing and repairing oroverhauling the same, particularly since this'fraine is confined at themiddle part of the machine, where it is surrounded by various otherparts and hence inaccessible and inconvenient for bending in therequired manner.

The desired alignment of the universal bar 37 is obtained by providingfor bodily adjustment of the rocking guide frau'ie 48, 49, 52. To thisend, the rocking frame is mounted upon pivots 55, 56, which are rela-'tively adjustable laterally in a manner to displace one side of therocking frame either forwardly or backwardly of the machine. The pivotis in the form of a screw having a conical point, which fits in abearing in one end of the shaft 52 the arbor or mount 56 having aconical point- 57, which fits in a similar bearing in the opposite endof the rock shaft 52. The pivot 55 may be stationary, except that it maybe shifted endwise to adjust or take up play of the rock shaft 52; butthe pivot point is adjustable forwardly and backwardly; the arbor 56being for this purpose mounted eccentrically of the pivot point 57. Thepivot 57 should be at its topmost position, as in Figure 7, and may besecured against rotative displacement bya lockin pin 58, which may enterany of several notches 59 in a head 60 provided upon the arbor or shaft56; said pin fixed at 61 in the casting 54. If, however, the universalbar 37 should be found to operate differently at one end from the other,this difiiculty can be corrected, by first taking out the arbor or shaft56 and turning it so as to shift the pivot 57 either forwardly orbackwardly, and then restoring said arbor, thereliiy displacing this endof the rocking frame 48, 49, 52, and hence swinging the frame 36 anduniversal bar 37 horizontally until the'front or active edge of saiduniversal bar is exactly parallel with the plane of the pivot wire 39;the pin 58 now occupy ing another notch 59, to re-lock the arbor 56against displacement. A set screw 62 may also be provided for the pivotor eccentric 56, to hold it where adjusted endwise in connection withthe opposite pivot 55. It thus becomes practicable and simple to secureaccuracy ofmovement not only of the ribbon-vibrator, but also of thefeed-dogs, enabling a closer timing of theoperation of said dogs to bemade, especially at the return strokes of the type-bars from the platen,with a View of rendering the machine speedier and more accurate.

The arms 48, 49 may be provided with gudgeons or pivots, one of which,63, is

threaded so as to be adjustable, and is secured by a set screw 64 andcone-pointed at 65, Figure 3, to fit m a conlcal hole 66, made in thearm 46. The screw 64 may be loosened, and the pivot 63 screwed out totake up the shake, and the screw 64L then tightened. In arm 49 is forceda companion pivot or gudgeontiii to fit in aconical hole made in arm 47.mounting of the frame 35 and the frame %8, l9, gives lightness andtherefore conduces to speed of action, and permits the pivot shaft to bedispensed with, which usually extends from arm to arm at? and rendersthe feeding dogs inaccessible.

The d etent dog and the stepping dog list are carried upon the rocker32. Said rocker. may be journaled upon ad ustable pivots 6'7 secured 'byset screws (58. The

universal bar fran'ie'striker 35-engages the end of a screw 69, which isthreaded into the upper portion of the dog. rocker 32; the screw beingadjustable to secure fine variations in the timing of the rocker action.The dog rocker is returned by the spring 40 to normal position, thelower end of the rocker engaging the head of a stop screw threaded intothe framework. At its lower end, the rocker also carries an adjustablescrew 71, which strikes against a stop 72 to limitthe initial movementof the rocker. This stop 72 is pivoted upon a screw T3, and has a handle74, whereby it may be swung out of the path of the screw 71, to permitadditional movement of the dog rocker and universal bar frame 36 when itis desired to detach any typebar from the machine, Figure 2, said stop72 being returned by a spring 75 against a stop pin 75. The steppingmovement of the dog 34 is limited by a cone-headed adjustable screw 76shown as carried by the dog-rocker 32.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the inun'ovements may be used without others Having thusdescribed my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a set of type-barspivoted in an arc, of a curved universal bar in the paths of thetype-bars for operation thereby, a frame of which said universal barforms a part, a ribbon-vibrator operated by said universal l ar frame, arocking frame constituting a support: for said universal v-bar franjie,pivots for said rocking frame. and means for effecting relative lateraladjust ment of said pivots to bring the edge of the universal bar intoparallelisn'i with the plane of the arc of the type-bar pivots.

In a typewriting machine, the combina tion with a set of typ- -barspivoted in an arc, of a curved universal bar in the paths of thetvpe-bars for operationv thereby, a frame of which said universal barforms a part, a rocking frame constituting a support for said. universalbar frame, and means movable for bringing the edge of said universal barThis construction and into parallelism with the are of said'typebarpivots.

3'. Ina typewriting machine, the combination'with a set of type-barspivoted in an arc, of a curveduni-vei-sal bar, a frame of which said.universal bar forms a part, a rocking frame constituting a support for'said universal bar frame, and; pivots for said rocking frame, one ofsaid pivots having an eccentric mounting whereby said rocking frame anduniversal bar frame may be swung about the other of said pivots.

4:. In a typeavrit ingi machine, the combination with a set of type-barspivoted in an arc, of a curveduniversal bar in the paths of" thetype-bars for operation thereby, a

frame of which said universal bar forms a. part, a rocking frameconstituting asup port for said universal-bar' frame, pivots-for said.rock'ng-frame, and means for effecting relative lateral adjustment ofsaid pivots to bring the edge of the universal bar into parallelism withthe plane of the arc of the typebar pivots, said rocking frame pivotsbeing also relatively adjustable endwise.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a set of type-barspivoted in an arc, of a curved universal bar, a frame of which saiduniversal bar forms apart, a rocking frame constituting a support forsaid universal bar frame, pivots for said rocking frame, one of saidpivots having an eccentric mounting whereby said rocking frame anduniversal bar frame may be swung about the other of said pivots, saidmounting having a disk provided with notches, and a pin insertable inany of the notches to lock the mounting against rotation.

6. In combination, a universal bar frame supported at one end, saiduniversal bar frame having at its other end two spaced arms providedwith depressions to receive pivot points, a rocker having two arms, eachof which has its free end adjacent one of the arms of the universal barframe, a pivot point fixed in one rocker-arn'i and engaging in thedepression in the adjacent framearm, and another pivot point threaded inthe other rocker-arm in position to engage in the depression in theadjacent frame-arm, whereby any excessive play between the universal barframe and the rocker may be taken up.

7. The combination with a set of detachable type-bars, of a carriageeseapement mechanism, comprising a universal bar engageable by type-barsof said set, a dogrocker operable by said universal bar, arocker-bracket having parallel arms in which said dog-rocker is pivotedand a U- shaped connector for said arms extending to one side of theplane of said arms so as to permit a sufficient movement of saiddogrocker, a stop for arresting said dog-rocker,

and a substantially horizontal lever oarrying' said stop and pivoted onthe face of said connector, said lever having an arch extending over theadjacent side of said connector and a finger-piece at the outer end ofsaid arch extending laterally beyond the adjacent arm of therocker-bracket, movement of said fingerpiece from its normal positionbeing effective to displace said stop and permit additional movement ofthe dog-rocker and universal bar to permit detachment of a type-bar.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a universal bar, of arocking frame connected to the universal bar, and means for effectingrelative adjustment of the ends of said universal bar, comprising apivot bearing for said frai'ne mounted 'for adjustment transversely tothe axis of the pivot, means for securing said'bearing Where adjusted,and locking means for preserving the adjustment.

9. In a typevvriting machine, the combination with a series ofkey-actuated members and an escapement-operating universal bar in thepaths of said members for actua-V tion thereby, of a supporting rockerconnected to the universal bar and having opposite conical bearings,cone pivots for said bearings, each pivot being adjustablein an axialdirection independently of the other, and means whereby an adjustment ofone of said pivots in a direction transversely to its axis

